So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
They do their best, they do what they can
They get them ready for Vietnam
From old Hanoi to East Berlin
Commando, involved again
They do their best, they do what they can
They get them ready for Vietnam
First rule is "the laws of Germany"
Second rule is "be nice to mommy"
Third rule is "don't talk to Commies"
Fourth rule is "eat kosher salamis"
They do their best, they do what they can
They get them ready for Vietnam
From old Hanoi to East Berlin
Commando, involved again
They do their best, they do what they can
They get them ready for Vietnam
First rule is "the laws of Germany"
Second rule is "be nice to mommy"
Third rule is "don't talk to Commies"
Fourth rule is "eat kosher salamis"
They get them ready for Vietnam
From old Hanoi to East Berlin
Commando, involved again
They do their best, they do what they can
They get them ready for Vietnam
First rule is "the laws of Germany"
Second rule is "be nice to mommy"
Third rule is "don't talk to Commies"
Fourth rule is "eat kosher salamis"
They do their best, they do what they can
They get them ready for Vietnam
From old Hanoi to East Berlin
Commando, involved again
They do their best, they do what they can
They get them ready for Vietnam
First rule is "the laws of Germany"
Second rule is "be nice to mommy"
Third rule is "don't talk to Commies"
Fourth rule is "eat kosher salamis"
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Commando Lyrics as written by Jeff Hyman Douglas Colvin
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@patrick1750 That could be it too. A totally different point of view - Joey's. It's fascinating how one song could mean more than one thing?